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Updated: May 9, 2026
26:48
Induction and Clinical Scoring of Chronic-Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
Published on: July 4, 2007
Predictors of outcome in acute encephalitis
Kiran T Thakur1, Melissa Motta, Anthony O Asemota
1Johns Hopkins Encephalitis Center, Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Neurology
|July 30, 2013
Summary
Predictors of death in encephalitis patients include cerebral edema, status epilepticus (SE), and thrombocytopenia. Aggressively managing these potentially reversible conditions may improve outcomes for encephalitis patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Encephalitis is a serious neurological condition requiring intensive care.
- Identifying predictors of outcome is crucial for managing patients with encephalitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate predictors of mortality and functional outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with all-cause encephalitis.
- To analyze factors associated with good and poor outcomes in surviving encephalitis patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 103 encephalitis cases at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of mortality and functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale).
Main Results:
- Mortality was associated with cerebral edema, status epilepticus (SE), and thrombocytopenia.
- Endotracheal intubation with ventilator support was highly correlated with death (95%).
- Autoimmune encephalitis etiology was associated with a poorer outcome compared to viral, nonviral, or unknown causes.
Conclusions:
- Potentially reversible conditions like cerebral edema, SE, and thrombocytopenia are significant predictors of death in encephalitis.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the impact of aggressive management of these complications on patient outcomes.
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